SHUNSUKE NAKAMURA - JAPAN

Date of birth: June 24, 1978
Birthplace: Kanagawa, Japan
Club: Celtic (Scotland)
Position: Midfielder
International debut: February 2000 vs. Singapore

Shunsuke Nakamura used to live in the shadow of Hidetoshi Nakata. Those days are long gone.

Though Nakata is still considered the "David Beckham of Japan," it's Nakamura who stands as the most important and gifted player on Japan's national team.

Nakamura is renowned for his near-perfect long passes and his prowess from dead-ball situations. The playmaker's other strength is his versatility, as he can play in midfield, just behind the main strikers, or as a winger. He's a player who exudes vision and class, able to lift his team with a single moment of genius on the field.

A 19-year-old Nakamura signed with J-League team Yokohama Marinos after graduating high school in 1997 and became a regular starter during his first two seasons with the club. He made his national team debut in 2000 and helped Japan with that year's Asian Cup. He was also named J-League MVP in 2000.

His strong play at the Asian Cup seemed to cement his place on the national team, but Japan's French coach Philippe Troussier controversially did not bring him to the 2002 World Cup — the Frenchman thought Nakamura lacked strength and stamina, and didn't think he was a good fit for Japan's defensive-minded style of play.

After the World Cup, he left Yokohama and signed with Italian club Reggina. The move paid huge dividends, as he improved his strength in the physical Italian league while honing his already impressive array of offensive skills.

Troussier resigned as manager of Japan after the World Cup, and new coach and former Brazil star Zico wasted no time in bringing the talented midfielder back into the national team. Nakamura thrived under Zico's attacking style and earned his place as the team's chief playmaker.

Nakamura repaid Zico by leading Japan to victory at the 2004 Asian Cup, where he was named the tournament MVP. Nakamura was also a standout for Japan at the 2005 Confederations Cup, scoring four goals in six games.

Scottish league powerhouse Celtic took notice and paid Reggina 3.5 million pounds ($7.2 million Cdn) to buy the Japanese schemer after the tournament.

Many thought Nakamura would not cut it in the extremely physical Scottish league, but the Japanese playmaker made an immediate impact with Celtic. He was named Man of the Match in his first game for his new club and became an instant favourite with the Glasgow fans — he earned the nickname "Super Naka" with Celtic supporters — thanks to his tireless work ethic and creative touch.

His first season in Scotland was a major success, as he helped Celtic win the Scottish league title and the Scottish League Cup. At the same time, he played a key role in guiding Japan through qualification for the 2006 World Cup, and this time he will not only be making the trip to Germany, but also figure prominently in his country's starting lineup.